John Dudley: Browns free agent moves appear to be about attitude

- The Browns' signings of linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Donte Whitner seemed a little puzzling at first. Dansby (32) and Whitner (who will be 29 before the season) are older than the players they are effectively replacing, D'Qwell Jackson (30) and T.J. Ward (27).

First, Jackson made it fairly clear he no longer wanted to play for the Browns, and Ward rejected the team's final offer before signing with the Broncos.

Second, Dansby and Whitner are at least comparable with Jackson and Ward against the pass -- if not significantly better in Dansby's case.

ProFootballFocus.com ranked Dansby as the top inside linebacker in free agency, based largely on two numbers: a 75.0 rating by quarterbacks who threw his way, and 10 pass deflections, the most in six years by an inside linebacker.

Finally, Whitner (49ers) and Dansby (Cardinals) arrive from winning organizations and with reputations for elevating the players around them.

On second glance, the Browns appear to have been interested in changing their attitude on defense.

- Assuming they don't re-sign veteran defensive end Brett Keisel, who has said he won't play for a minimum contract, the Steelers will enter the first weekend of free agency with Cam Heyward and Brian Arnfelt as the only two defensive ends on their depth chart.

One option is to move nose tackle Steve McLendon, who's built more like a 3-4 end, outside and find another solution at the nose.

Another is to shop for a starting end or nose tackle in free agency or the draft.

One name to keep in mind is Louis Nix of Notre Dame.

At 6 feet 2 inches,342 pounds, Nix is a slightly larger version of Casey Hampton, with the same build and every bit as nasty.

He could be available when the Steelers pick 15th overall.

- Two of the Bills' three signings this week -- cornerback Corey Graham and linebacker Keith Rivers -- were low-risk, modest-cost moves designed to add depth and create competition.

The third -- a four-year, $13.5 million deal for guard Chris Williams with $5 million guaranteed -- could be disastrous.

Williams graded out as one of the worst guards in the league with the Rams in 2013, earning a minus-21.8 grade from ProFootballFocus.com for run-blocking efficiency and pass protection.

The Bills overpaid for him anyway.

Maybe they saw something in Williams that the Rams and the Bears, who drafted him 14th overall in 2008 and later released him, both missed.